New trade centers to promote Indonesian products overseas
24/06/2008 - 17:33
Antara News said the Indonesian government will launch eleven new international trade promotion centers (ITPC) in 2008. In addition to the already established nine ITPC offices, including in Japan, the US, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa, the new centers will help strengthen the presence of and identify new opportunities for Indonesian products in international markets. The ITPCs will be launched in: Shanghai, China; Busan, South Korea; Chennai, India; San Diego, US; Chicago, US; Barcelona, Spain; Lagos, Nigeria; Vancouver, Canada; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and Lyon, France. At the same time, the chairman of the Indonesian Furniture and Handicraft Producers Association, Ambar Tjahjono, asked the government to evaluate ITPC activities dedicated to promoting Indonesian timber products overseas. In other news, recent hikes of fuel and food prices are forcing the Indonesian government to sharpen its international marketing strategy. Steep competition from China, Malaysia and Vietnam has also made the positioning of timber products even more critical.